What next for Egypt and the Copts?

Muslim Brotherhood's Khairat al-Shater

Egypt was a cradle of Christianity long before Islam took hold after the Muslim invasion in the 7th Century A.D. The Coptic Church has since been persecuted to the extent that Christians are now a small minority under constant threat - the plight of Christian communities throughout the Middle East. You can read of their plight here. Egypt's Arab Spring advanced the cause of the Muslim Brotherhood aided by their vow not to contest the Presidential elections. That has been changed raising fears that they cannot be trusted. Some suggest that the Muslim vote will split  as a consequence but whatever happens, if minorities are not protected the Muslim Brotherhood will be seen as betraying the trust of those who supported them.


Postscript
Shariah Law Is Ultimate Goal of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Presidential Candidate.

Islamic countries cleansed of Christians

From the Voice of the Copts (see Blog list) yet another report of a Christian church attacked in Egypt. Here is disturbing account of the plight of Christians abroad, of which a few details: 

 "In Bethlehem ... the Christian population has dropped from a majority to less than 20%; .... the number of Christians in Turkey declined from two million to 85,000; in Syria, from half the population they have been reduced to 4%; in Jordan, from 18% to 2%; nearly two-thirds of the 500,000 Christians in Baghdad have fled or been killed; in Lebanon, Christians have dwindled to a sectarian rump, menaced by surging Shiite and Sunni populations, and in Saudi Arabia Christians have been beaten or tortured by religious police."

No doubt the latter account will be dismissed merely as Israeli propaganda; indeed the Vatican is not portrayed in a particularly friendly manner highlighting the problem of a meaningful dialogue with Muslims. But the message that Christians continue to be persecuted is clear. There are also dangers for Muslims rejoicing in the Arab Spring. They, as well as Christians, would do well to heed the stark warning in this video of one tyrannical regime being replaced by another.

Oppression or oppression: The Christian dilemma in Islamic states

 It was reported in the New York Times yesterday that 'Fearing Change, Many Christians in Syria Back Assad'. It is a sad irony for Christians there that even Iran has called for an end to the Syrian crackdown despite oppression being the norm in that country.

While the Anglican church here contents itself with becoming a social club for non-dissenters, fellow Christians elsewhere are prepared to die for their faith subjecting themselves to endless harassment. [Caution: the harassment link shows distressing images.]

The unintended consequences of the Arab Spring have provided a stark reminder that Christians in Iraq were better off under Saddam Hussein leaving Christians in Syria impaled on the horns of a dilemma.